Querencia (Midnight #1)

Chapter 28

Twenty-eight
ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈✧༺♥༻∞

Lumingon ako sa mga tao at parang gusto ko na lang biglang mag-inom, hindi ko alam kung saan nakuha ng katawan ko ang ganitong enerhiya—I've never drank any alcohol before, I don't know what it tastes them but one thing's for sure, they are obviously bitter.

Just like me, bitter. I gritted my teeth as the imaginary liquor ate my system. . . based on my imagination it was bitter like me.

Pinanood kong mag-usap si Francine at Maxeus, nasa second floor ako pero damang-dama ko ang ngiting iginagawad ng dalaga sa lalaki, napaka-tamis—habang ako rito nagpapakapakla na. I don't get why people love drinking. As a minor, it's understandable that I hate alcohol.

But now? Parang gusto kong tumungga ng isang buong bote dahil sa nakikita ko. Why are they even together? Yes, they are both STEM students—is it required that even outside the classroom they are talking like that? That freaking close?

Oh, gosh. Gusto ko bumili ng alak at ibuhos sa kanila para maramdaman nilang dalawa ang kapaitang nararamdaman ko ngayon. Fool you, Harmonia. Kung anu-anong iniisip mo.

"Hoy, gago, ano ba 'yang tinitingnan mo r'yan?" Ela distracted me from watching the sweetest couple I've ever seen.

"Look around, you'll realize what I was looking at," I told her. Kita ko ang pag-angat ng kilay ni Vida sa likod niya.

She looked confused at first, but when she realized what I was talking about—she pursed her lips and looked at me. Kulang na lang ay paulanan niya ako ng tawa dahil sa reaksyon na ibinibigay niya—her face is almost laughing but suppressing it.

"Kaya naman pala. Isa lang masasabi ko; shot puno." Aniya at saka tinapik ang aking likod.

Bwisit ka, Ela. Kung alam niya lang na inihalintulad ko ang sarili ko sa isang alak dahil sa sobrang pait ng nararamdaman ko ay siguradong 'di ako titigilan nito katatawa. I hate how I describe my feelings as liquor, but what can I do? It perfectly fits.

"Ang daming alam ni Ela. You always talk about liquor but you hate how it tastes." Vida said.

Ela winked at Vida. "Syempre. For clout lang. Super bitter kaya ng alak—parang si Harmony," she even laughed after saying that.

Goodness.

Nauwi sa ayaan kaming tatlo. Actually, wala talaga akong balita sa kanilang dalawa ng dalawang araw na magdaan. Ang palagi ko lang kasama ay si Iosef dahil bukod sa siya ang katabi ko, nakakasundo ko rin talaga siya halos sa lahat ng bagay. After we ate at The Beanery, the next day, he asked me to eat somewhere else, and he'll treat me.

Medyo nagulat siya noong dinala ko siya kung saan kami madalas na kumakain nina Ela noong Junior High School kapag mapupunta kami sa malapit doon. Wala na akong ibang lugar na alam kung saan pa mayroong tusok-tusok kaya inaya ko siya.

He told me many times that we should eat in a fast food chain—I told him many times as well that I am good with that kind of set-up. Dinamihan ko na lang din ang kain ko para mapamahal siya at hindi na siya mag-aya pa sa iba.

I actually planned to invite him there. In-expect ko na kasi na gusto niya tapatan ang libreng ginawa ko sa kanya noon, pero hindi naman 'yon p'wede, I wanted to treat him without asking anything. Ang gusto ko lang talaga noon ay kasama, and The Beanery is my favorite restaurant.

Iosef and I get along so well. Sa lahat ng subject namin ay nagkakasundo rin kami. Our currently favorite subject right now is Oral Communication, na halos lahat naman yata ng strand ay mayroon nito.

"Ingat, Iosef! Pasabi na lang sa Lolo mo hello, ba-bye!" Sigaw ko at lumabas na ng classroom kung saan naabutan ko ang dalawa kong kaibigan na naghihintay na sa akin.